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NI police colluded with killers NI police colluded with killers
(20 minutes later)
Police colluded with loyalists behind several murders in north Belfast, a report by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland has confirmed.Police colluded with loyalists behind several murders in north Belfast, a report by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland has confirmed.
Nuala O'Loan's report said UVF members in the area committed murders and other serious crimes while working as informers for Special Branch.Nuala O'Loan's report said UVF members in the area committed murders and other serious crimes while working as informers for Special Branch.
The report said some Special Branch officers gave the killers immunity and ensured they were not caught.The report said some Special Branch officers gave the killers immunity and ensured they were not caught.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde offered an apology to the victims' families.Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde offered an apology to the victims' families.
He said the report made "shocking, disturbing and uncomfortable reading".He said the report made "shocking, disturbing and uncomfortable reading".
NI Secretary Peter Hain said it "shone a torch into a very dark corner".NI Secretary Peter Hain said it "shone a torch into a very dark corner".
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "This is a deeply disturbing report about events which were totally wrong and should never have happened."The prime minister's official spokesman said: "This is a deeply disturbing report about events which were totally wrong and should never have happened."
Sharon McKenna was murdered in 1992
The report, published on Monday, called for a number of murder investigations to be re-opened.The report, published on Monday, called for a number of murder investigations to be re-opened.
But it is unlikely that any of the police officers involved will be prosecuted - the ombudsman said that evidence was deliberately destroyed to ensure there could not be prosecutions.But it is unlikely that any of the police officers involved will be prosecuted - the ombudsman said that evidence was deliberately destroyed to ensure there could not be prosecutions.
No names Beaten to death
The report said: "Others, including some serving officers, gave evasive, contradictory, and on occasion farcical answers to questions.The report said: "Others, including some serving officers, gave evasive, contradictory, and on occasion farcical answers to questions.
"On occasion those answers indicated either a significant failure to understand the law, or contempt for the law."On occasion those answers indicated either a significant failure to understand the law, or contempt for the law.
"On other occasions the investigation demonstrated conclusively that what an officer had told the Police Ombudsman's investigators was completely untrue.""On other occasions the investigation demonstrated conclusively that what an officer had told the Police Ombudsman's investigators was completely untrue."
Sharon McKenna was murdered in 1992
The ombudsman's investigation began more than three years ago when Belfast welder Raymond McCord claimed that his son, also called Raymond, had been killed by a police informer.The ombudsman's investigation began more than three years ago when Belfast welder Raymond McCord claimed that his son, also called Raymond, had been killed by a police informer.
The former RAF man, 22, was beaten to death and his body dumped in a quarry in 1997.The former RAF man, 22, was beaten to death and his body dumped in a quarry in 1997.
Mr McCord has said he wants those who murdered his son to be put in prison.Mr McCord has said he wants those who murdered his son to be put in prison.
He said he had received a death threat at the weekend from the UVF.He said he had received a death threat at the weekend from the UVF.
Mr McCord said that during his campaign of justice for his son he had been made to feel by police that he was "some sort of crank".Mr McCord said that during his campaign of justice for his son he had been made to feel by police that he was "some sort of crank".
Mr McCord was beaten and his body was left at a quarry Mr Hain said the potential for charges was a matter for the PPS
Among the investigations which could be re-opened are the murder in north Belfast in 1992 of 27-year-old taxi driver Sharon McKenna, who was shot at the home of an elderly friend.Among the investigations which could be re-opened are the murder in north Belfast in 1992 of 27-year-old taxi driver Sharon McKenna, who was shot at the home of an elderly friend.
The names of the police officers and the informers have not been made public.The names of the police officers and the informers have not been made public.
However, it is known that the main informer at the centre of the investigation is Mark Haddock, who was named in the Irish parliament 15 months ago as a UVF killer.However, it is known that the main informer at the centre of the investigation is Mark Haddock, who was named in the Irish parliament 15 months ago as a UVF killer.
Mr Hain said the report had shocked him deeply and it would make "extremely uncomfortable reading", but that policing had changed.Mr Hain said the report had shocked him deeply and it would make "extremely uncomfortable reading", but that policing had changed.
Some of the Special Branch officers criticised in the report have rejected the ombudsman's allegations as "unfounded and incapable of substantiation".Some of the Special Branch officers criticised in the report have rejected the ombudsman's allegations as "unfounded and incapable of substantiation".
In a statement, the Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers' Association said they had always acted in the best interests of the pursuit of justice and had nothing to be ashamed of.In a statement, the Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers' Association said they had always acted in the best interests of the pursuit of justice and had nothing to be ashamed of.
The officers also challenged the ombudsman to disclose the details of any evidence of their criminal behaviour discovered during her investigation.The officers also challenged the ombudsman to disclose the details of any evidence of their criminal behaviour discovered during her investigation.